Museum Anatomy

FAQ

Q. Who takes the Museum Anatomy photographs? A. We take all of our own photographs using either a medium format camera, or a DSLR camera depending on the painting being created.

Q. Are you considered “body painters”? A. We are painters, photographers, concept-artists, draftsmen, performance artists, sculptors, historians, investigators, woodworkers, curiosity-seekers and anything else needed to help create our work. Painting on the body is only one of the tools used for Museum Anatomy and it is used to create a specific illusion for a camera to capture. It is as important as the camera, concept, performance or plaster-casting process.

Q. Why don’t you paint on a canvas? A. The idea of painting on flesh is key to the entire concept of Museum Anatomy, which aims to resurrect paintings onto a living body. This medium helps us to create a site-specific or mobile performative actions which are documented with a camera, before the ephemeral paint is washed off. In 2010, we began painting on plaster casts of various body parts, incorporating them in with the paintings performed on the skin.

Q. How is the Museum Anatomy work displayed? A. The paintings on the body are documented using a camera. The enlarged photographic prints are exhibited as final works of art.

Q. How many prints do you make of each painting? A. There is one specific print which is created in a customized frame as the official completed work of art. There are five additional unframed numbered editions available for collectors.

Q. Do you only paint on Chadwick’s body? A. For the purposes of the Museum Anatomy project, all paintings included in the series are painted on Chadwick’s body.

Q. Where can I see a live performance of the work? A. Live performances of Museum Anatomy are very rare. Sometimes, they can be seen at exhibition openings. Most of the time the work is created in a private studio.

Q. Can I commission a painting to be created on my body or a model’s body for an advertisement? A. Each situation is unique. Please contact us directly for further information or ideas on collaboration: MuseumAnatomy@gmail.com

Q. What type of paint do you use on the body? A. Special effects make-up (often used for live theatre and cinema).

Q. Do you do any other types of artwork? A. Yes. We are very flexible and work in many mediums, including paintings on canvas.

Q. How long does it take to paint a Museum Anatomy painting? A. Anywhere from 5-18 hours, depending on the intricacy of the painting.